Battle Of The Bombers: The B-24 Liberator Vs The B-17 Flying Fortress (2024)

Boeing's B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated Aircraft's B-24 Liberator were used extensively during the World War II era. Both types were utilized by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and are in the top three most-produced bombers of all time. However, although these aircraft were both known as heavy bombers, they were used for a variety of different missions.

The B-17 Flying Fortress

The Boeing-designed aircraft first flew in 1935. It was created as a replacement for the Martin B-10 to be used by the USAAC. Although the aircraft initially lost the contract due to a crash in testing, the USAAC was impressed with the bomber's performance. Later, the USAAC would purchase several aircraft for further testing, leading to the type being introduced into service in 1938. Interestingly, the B-17 would first see action with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1941.

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Nearly 13,000 B-17s would go on to be produced by Boeing; almost 9,000 of these were of the B-17G variant - achieving the best performance across all variants. The B-17G was over 70 feet long, featured a 103-foot wingspan, and was produced with four Wright R-1820-7 engines, each providing over 1,200 horsepower. This allowed the variant to take off with a maximum takeoff weight of 65,500 pounds. It also had a range of 2,000 miles and a typical cruise speed of 158 knots. A 10-man crew would operate up to nine defensive positions in the B-17G, which utilized a total of 13 M2 Browning machine guns.

The B-24 Liberator

The Liberator was manufactured by Consolidated Aircraft and began design in 1938. Initially, the USAAC hoped that Consolidated Aircraft would help produce the B-17 under license. However, the company executives would later develop a more modern aircraft. The aircraft would first fly in December 1939 and would later be entered into service in 1941 by both the USAAC and the RAF.

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Overall, a whopping total of over 18,000 B-24 aircraft were produced. The most popular variant was the B-24J, which saw more than 6,500 units manufactured. An additional set of variants was created specifically for the British military, and several other variants were developed for reconnaissance, cargo, and escort missions.

The B-24J variant had a wingspan of 110 feet to hold the four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 that powered the aircraft. These engines allowed the aircraft to reach a typical cruise speed of 187 knots and a range of 1,540 miles. The Liberator also utilized 10 M2 Browning machine guns in six defensive positions around the aircraft.

Heavy bomber comparison

There is a frequent argument about which of these heavy bombers is the better aircraft. Many of the general public lean towards the B-17 as the more successful aircraft, although there is a valid argument for both sides. Let's take a closer look at a direct comparison between these two aircraft.

The B-24 and B-17 had similar payload capacities and armaments; critically, both used M2 Browning machine guns. However, the latter was considered more spacious and had nine defensive positions instead of the B-24's six defensive positions. The B-24, on the other hand, had a higher cruise speed, though it had a significantly lower service ceiling compared to the B-17.

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Consolidated Aircraft's B-24 was also easier to produce due to its more straightforward design and, therefore, was manufactured in more significant numbers. Boeing's B-17 was known for its extreme durability, which led to its nickname of the Flying Fortress. Overall, both aircraft were utilized throughout the war depending on what the specific mission required. Each aircraft contributed differently to the war's outcome due to their different design philosophies and priorities.